InfoGram 42-12: October 18, 2012

This InfoGram will be distributed weekly to provide members of the Emergency Services Sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. For further information, contact the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) at (301) 447-1325 or by email at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov.

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Ready, Set, Go! Grants Assist Public Education

The Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) Program assists fire departments to teach individuals who live in high risk wildland fire areas how to best prepare themselves and their properties against wildland fire threats. The grant program is designed to assist fire departments that are often strapped for time and resources.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) have been offering RSG! Program grants up to $1000 (PDF, 291 Kb) to rural and volunteer department members.  The RSG! Program has awarded grants to assist many successful projects, such as:

• Organizing outreach efforts focusing on local mitigation and collaboration.
• Customizing the RSG National Personal Wildland Fire Action Guide to focus on local efforts.
• Working within the community to establish posted evacuation routes.

There are still grants available to RSG member departments.  If you are not a member, you may join by filling out a membership form.  The application process is very simple.  Check out this opportunity to access funds and tools to assist in spreading the RSG message throughout your community.

(Source: Ready, Set, Go! Program)

Critical Infrastructure Protection Online Course

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is offering the new course “Implementing Critical Infrastructure Protection Programs” (IS-921) online through their Independent Study program.  The targeted audience is anyone with critical infrastructure responsibilities.

The primary goal is enabling participants to:

• Summarize their critical infrastructure responsibilities.
• Identify the critical infrastructure protection private-sector and government partners at the State, local, tribal, territorial, and Federal levels.
• Describe processes for effective information sharing with critical infrastructure partners.
• Know various methods for assessing and validating information.

The accompanying toolkit package includes a series of videos, exercise planning guidance, tips on promoting public-private partnerships, and resource lists of infrastructure protection links, classes, and planning guides.

There are no prerequisites for this free course, but students should have a working knowledge of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) or have completed Independent Study Courses IS-860.a and IS-821.  This course is eligible for 0.3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) after completion of the final exam.

(Source: Emergency Management Institute)

Anthrax Guidance for First Responders’ Health

The Department of Homeland Security has issued guidance to educate first responders on protective actions they should take in the event of a wide-area anthrax release.  “Guidance for Protecting Responders’ Health during the First Week Following a Wide-Area Aerosol Anthrax Attack” (PDF, 314 Kb) focuses on a large-scale release scenario in a major U.S. city and the immediate aftermath.

The guidance is non-binding, provides suggestions for responders risking high, moderate, and limited exposure based on the expected activities, and the potential to travel through the affected area in the aftermath of an attack. Pre- and post-event vaccination, personal protective equipment, and decontamination are discussed.

The guidance is expected to evolve based on the understanding of risks, stakeholder feedback, scientific developments, and new environmental monitoring techniques.  The federal interagency working group that developed the guidance consisted of subject matter experts in biodefense, infectious diseases, and occupational health and safety from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(Source: DHS Office of Health Affairs)

U.S. Fire Administration’s Internship Program

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is currently accepting applications for the USFA Internship Program.  USFA is part of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and is located in Emmitsburg, MD.

Applicants must be enrolled not less than half time in an accredited educational institution; be at least a sophomore who has successfully completed introductory courses in fire and emergency services, instructional design, or a related field; have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; be a U.S. citizen; and have an interest in a career in the fire and emergency services or allied disciplines.

Students receive the opportunity to work full-time in different disciplines at USFA, participate in meetings, and assist with emergent projects.  Students may be provided campus housing in a private room and have the opportunity to attend two National Fire Academy (NFA) courses that may provide six transferable credits.

The working and housing arrangement promotes interaction with both fire and emergency management professionals from around the country and provides an opportunity to forge long-lasting friendships and potential career contacts.

(Source: U.S. Fire Administration)